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The Union commerce ministry has recommended extending of the industrial holiday package to the Himachal Pradesh government up to 2013.The current package is due to expire in 2010.
This was disclosed by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister P K Dhumal after his meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma in New Delhi on Monday.
“The commerce ministry has recommended the extension of the package to the prime minister and the union finance ministry for their approval,” Dhumal said.
“The state government pleaded with the Centre that there is no flight of industry from neighbouring states due to the package. In fact reputed industrial houses from far off states like Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh had set up units in the state,” he said.
In early 2003 the NDA government had announced industrial holiday package for promotion of industry in Himachal up to 2013.
But after pressure from neighbouring states this was later reduced to 2010.
“There is no justification for curtailing the package time limit for states like Himachal and Uttarakhand while continuing the same package to Jammu & Kashmir,” said Dhumal.
He said the commerce ministry would also make efforts to attract investment in food processing and IT sectors in the state with logistic and infrastructure support from the Himachal government.
The commerce ministry also plans to set up skill development centres at Solan and Una districts to train local youths for sharpening their skills to enable them to get jobs in the industrial sector.Since the industrial holiday package in 2003, the state has succeeded in attracting an investment of Rs 40,130 crore.